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doublehelixpro · Nov 21, 2009, 03:15 PM

alright, so i have a powerbook g4 that the hard drive in it crashed. i replaced the drive last night, but when i boot up, all i get is the blue folder flashing a question mark. I'm assuming because i have no os. now, heres the even bigger problem. the super drive is dead, or intermittently it is anyhow, it works for a few months, and then it just doesn't. when i was given the computer, it had a dead drive at the time, and i had installed tiger by putting the powerbook into target disk mode and installing it from my brothers mbp. I would do exactly the same thing, but for some reason, the powerbook ignores any and all boot commands i try and push. the only thing it lets me do, is push option after the folder comes up, then goes a screen with a big lock, a password field, and an arrow button. i've been trying to search why it would do that, but have come up with nothing. any help is greatly appreciated.

Spheric Harlot · Nov 21, 2009, 03:33 PM

You have a firmware password set.
Setting up firmware password protection in Mac OS X
How To: Disable Mac OSX firmware password - FileCluster Reviews

Please separate your posts into paragraphs; it would help readability immensely.

doublehelixpro · Nov 21, 2009, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

You have a firmware password set.
Setting up firmware password protection in Mac OS X
How To: Disable Mac OSX firmware password - FileCluster Reviews

Please separate your posts into paragraphs; it would help readability immensely.

hmmmm, I never set a password for it, I never had a problem using TDM before hand. also, none of my passwords work in the field.

the first one mentions resetting it with access to the inside of the computer. how would i do that? i think i read somewhere that removing the battery from the motherboard for 30 minutes did it?

i've tried adding or removing ram and resetting pram, but again, holding the keys upon start up do nothing, and it just brings me to that folder once again.

so, if somehow i can remove the firmware password, i should be able to access TDM again?

Spheric Harlot · Nov 21, 2009, 04:43 PM

Changing The RAM configuration should do it.

doublehelixpro · Nov 21, 2009, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

Changing The RAM configuration should do it.

i added a spare card i had, didn't do anything....

tried also resetting the pram after adding the card. no 3 beeps, just straight to that folder again...

doublehelixpro · Nov 21, 2009, 05:00 PM

just took both cards out and completely swapped locations. still right to the folder. and option still brings up the password prompt.

doublehelixpro · Nov 21, 2009, 05:41 PM

alright, so the only boot keys that will work are option-command-O-F to get into open firmware, if i try any of the commands to reset anything, it asks for the password that doesnt exist....

ive tried adding and rearranging my ram and then resetting pram...doesn't do anything.....

seanc · Nov 21, 2009, 05:51 PM

Have you reset the PRAM (cmd + option + p + r) 3 times (should take you through 3 reboots) after changing the RAM configuration?

AKcrab · Nov 21, 2009, 06:05 PM

If you can get into open firmware try:
reset-nvram
reset-all

doublehelixpro · Nov 21, 2009, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by AKcrab

If you can get into open firmware try:
reset-nvram
reset-all

i could get into firmware, but it would just request the password after ever line typed.

none the less i got the pram to reset and got into TDM. had to use the keyboard to my old powermac and worked first try, partitioned the disk and already moved my os boot onto it, should be good to go shortly.